Three Years

"Under_Score" (tomtheatum)
07/09/2019 at 13:59 • Filed to: None

On this day in 2016, my 2007 Ford Ranger was traded in for a 2016 Honda CR-V EX for my mom. As a result, I started driving her 2012 Toyota RAV4 Limited. My mom loves her CR-V, but the focus is on the RAV4.

This has been such a great car. There are little things I’d change about her, but she’s been a champion when it comes to what matters: reliability, safety, and capacity. She needed some suspension work a couple months ago, likely linked to driving over speed bumps at 20+ MPH daily for six months, but that was the biggest issue in the past three years. I’ve been through two serious wrecks, one that involved me spinning out on Interstate 20, another one caused by a lady hitting her gas pedal instead of her brake pedal in bumper-to-bumper traffic. No issues with me in either wreck, and the RAV4 was repaired just fine. The RAV4 can carry so much, too. I love the ability to confidently carry five dining room chairs or a giant dresser. I was thinking about the RAV4 last night , how great she’s been to me, and how I haven’t talked about or treated her better. I almost cried. And the fact my parents have maintained her and let me drive her (though I call the RAV4 mine, registration and all that are still under my parents) is something I’m very thankful for.

Because of where I park and the situations I’m in, washing is a waste of time and money. To celebrate three years, I put on a new Patagonia sticker and a Georgia Vineyard Vines whale. The Patagonia sticker is bubbly, but it’s better than the crusty, peeling one of before.

Because I graduate in 2020, I feel like I’m always searching for something new now. A bright blue or bright orange 2016-2018 Limited would be nice, but I know letting go of my 2012 would be hard. Driving her to 200,000 miles would be great, but I don’t want to trade her in because she’s having issues. I’d want her to continue life on the note that I’ve known her: reliable, safe, and practical.

DISCUSSION (13)

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Under_Score
07/09/2019 at 15:00

Tell me more about this ‘07 Ranger

For real though, even the most "boring" cars can warrant emotional attachments, same goes for me and the CR-V and our old Stratus. To the average human it seems ridiculous to gush over such common cars but when it's all you have and it's been good to you then of course you're gonna love it. I loved the Stratus because it was dependable and was bought new when I was born. I love the CR-V because it was the first new car purchase I was around for and is a great working car and saved my dad's life in a 60mph crash that nearly totaled it and could've very well totaled him too, but didn't. I hate the Odyssey because it gives us hell. You get what I mean?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Under_Score
07/09/2019 at 15:16

My girlfriend has a 2011 limited. Very decent little thing.

Under_Score > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute
07/09/2019 at 15:23

The Ranger had a ton of problems considering it didn’t even have 100,000 miles on the odometer. Meanwhile, my RAV4 has around 88,000 miles.

The LCI (wow, I should work for BMW and drive an EFG647485 X3xDrive400i with the 2.0 turbo) CR-V of our generation is really good, but it’s amazing how outclassed it is by the new one. It certainly looks better than the new one, but it’s crazy how much the segment has improved in three years. It was awesome that my mom’s CR-V had a screen, and now people are mad if cars don’t have CarPlay. The LaneWatch camera is cool, but every EX now has all of those collision alert systems.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > Under_Score
07/09/2019 at 16:21

Yeah, the refresh from my CR-V to your mom’s was pretty huge. And then w e had a loaner ‘19 EX and compared to our CR-V it was better in every way and my dad LOVED it. My grandpa also bought a 2018 LX a couple years ago and though it doesn’t have the performance and tech upgrades of the EX, it was still an improvement in many ways over our ‘13 EX-L. It’s crazy how much cars have been improving lately.

wafflesnfalafel > Under_Score
07/09/2019 at 22:54

My boss’s boss has one of those in that lighter metalic blue color and my folks have one of the lower model ones of that body style. Super functional and reliable vehicles.

Under_Score > wafflesnfalafel
07/09/2019 at 23:01

I love the blue of the refreshed models. This color is Black Forest Pearl, often misdiagnosed as Black.

carcrazydan738 > Under_Score
07/10/2019 at 09:08

Hi Under_Score, I currently own the exact twin of your Rav4 in the same color. I’m glad you still are satisfied with yours. For a small suv it does get decent mpgs and can haul more than it looks inside with the back seat folded down.

How many miles does yours have? Have you had any major issues with it? I just had to replace the front brake rotors and pads last night on mine. The only other modifications I added are: Chrome push bar, chrome bumper bar in the rear, chrome door pillar trim, vent shades, and a sticker in the back window that says “You know you like my toyota” If this Rav4 has such strong sentimental value, hang on to it longer.It’s funny how you say it gets confused as black in color, I’ve heard people calling mine gray. It’s a cosmic blue green to me.

Under_Score > carcrazydan738
07/10/2019 at 09:54

Hello! I’m glad you like yours, too. It has almost 88,000 miles.

carcrazydan738 > Under_Score
07/10/2019 at 11:05

Kinja'd!!!

Just thought I’d show you a photo of mine since we have the rav4 twins.

Under_Score > carcrazydan738
07/10/2019 at 13:19

Nice! Thank you for showing a picture. And you have the four-cylinder, too. That four-cylinder can be pretty powerful if you make it be. Also, is yours the tan interior, too? A lot of BFP RAV4’s have tan interiors, which is why I’m bummed mine is gray. Every car my family gets seems to have a gray or black interior because of the exterior color.

Being able to lock the swing gate with your elbow is one of my favorite features. The Highlander is one of the only cars with a visible keyless access button that isn’t on the handle.

carcrazydan738 > Under_Score
07/10/2019 at 15:09

I do have the 4 cyl. but I wish it had more power at times. For a small suv I do like the gas mileage even though it will never be as great as the Prius I used to own. I do have the keyless access buttons on the door handles and mine has a tan interior. I’m a sucker for tan interiors too. By the way mine has just under 70,000 miles. Sorry you’re bummed about the grey. is yours leather or fabric?

Under_Score > carcrazydan738
07/10/2019 at 16:34

Mine is leather, and I think 99% of the Limited models had leather. The driver’s seat is comfy, but the other seats are very firm. I drive it in a way where I get terrible gas mileage (hence why the four-cylinder is powerful), flooring it all the time and such, but it has the potential to get better (I average around 20 or 21 MPG).

I also don’t have 4WD. That could be part of it.

carcrazydan738 > Under_Score
07/11/2019 at 08:20

I didn’t know you could get a limited without 4wd. Mine has it but I discovered that the leather seats are comfortable for shorter trips no longer than an hour or two but any longer than that they aren’t as I found out when I took a trip to Hershey PA from where I live in upstate NY. I’m not a fan of the leather as it ages worse than the fabric shows the wrinkles really bad.